Burglar-alarm.



No. 64!,902. Patented Ian. 23, I900; c. E. SPENCER & .1. T. PETH'IGK.

BURGLAR ALARM.

UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

CLARENCE E. SPENCER AND JOHN T. PETHICK, OF CARBONDALE, PENNSYLVANIA.

BURGLAR-ALARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 641,902, dated January 23, 1900. Application filed September 22, 1899. Serial No. 781,313. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, CLARENCE E. SPENCER and JOHN T. PETHIOK, citizens of the United States,residing at Carbondale,in the county of Lackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Burglar-Alarm, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to an improvement in burglar-alarms, the object of which is to provide a simple, inexpensive, and effectual article to be applied to the casing of a window or to a door to be operated by the act of opening of said window or door to alarm the occupants of the buildings having these devices of the attempted or forced entrance of an in truder.

With the foregoing objects in view our invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts,whicl1 will be more fully described hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view showing the device in position on a window-casing. Figs. 2 and 3 are views showing the burglar-alarm as it appears from different points of View, and Fig. 4 is a view of some of the parts detached.

A represents the frame of the device, preferably made of cast metal and in the general shape shown. This frame is substantially flat on either side-on that side lying against the casing for obvious reasons and also upon the outer side in order that no projection save that hereinafter to be described shall extend in the way of the window-sash, door, or other moving object. This frame terminates at either end in lugs 1 2, which are perforated to admit of screws being inserted with which to attach the device firmly to the casing. The frame is cut away at 14 to allow for the action of certain of the operative parts and is slotted in its longitudinal center, one side of the slot forming a shield 18, guarding and concealing the mechanism. At one end,just in front of the lug or ear, a hole or socket 3 is formed in the frame for the reception of a percussion-cap or a cartridge, and theinner end of this hole communicates with a semicylindrical opening 4 cast in the frame for the purpose of protecting the casing from defacement or damage resulting from the explosion of the cap or cartridge, as well as to allow the noise of the explosion to be heard in the building and to permit the escape of the smoke. The face of the frame in which the head of the hole or socket 3 is found is scored or notched, as

at 22, to permit the removal of the cap or cartridge after it has been discharged or exploded.

The hammer 5 is pivotally secured between the two walls or sides 6 18 of the longitudinal slot cut in the frame by means of the pivotpin 8 passing through the foot19 of the hammer and both walls of the frame or slot. The striking-face of the hammer has a small projection 9 for the purpose of facilitating the explosion or discharge of the cartridge, and the opposite end is flat and adapted to be struck by the window when raised to actuate the hammer and cause its forcible engage- 7o ment upon the cap or cartridge, causing it to explode and giving the alarm to the occupants of the building of the opening of the door or window. Extending from and at right angles to the head is a knob 10, which serves as a handle by which to set the hammer. The foot of the hammer is formed in a substantially L shape, the pivotpin passing through the toe and the heel being slit or or notched centrally and vertically, as at 23, and having the looped end 11 of a wire 12 inserted loosely therein. A pin passes through the loop and into both walls of the slot in the hammer, serving to hold the wire in place. Upon and around this wire a strong spiral spring is placed, and it is compressed between the heel of the hammer and the ear 2 of the device, the wire 12 having a washer 15 inserted thereon at its opposite end 21, against which the spring abuts. A slot 16, 0 cut in the lug or car 2 and communicating by means of a hole 17 with the cut-away portion 14-, permits the slight play required by the extended end of the wire, which is loosely passed therethrongh when the hammer is elevated 5 or set. The formation of the foot of the hammer is such that when the hammer is raised to a set position the pressure of the spring causes it to retain such position until the door or window-casing has come in contact with the flattened face of the head of the hammer, causing the hammer to move forward far enough to pass the dead-center between the point of impact of the spring 12 and the pivotpin 8. This done, the spring exerts its strength toward actuating the hammer and causing it to strike the head of the cap or cartridge a smart blow. The hammer is raised by pulling down upon the knob 10 against the tendency of the spring until it reaches and passes the dead-center, when the heel of the hammer fits against the inner wall of the frame and is held or locked against accidental displacement by the action of the spring.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the alarm is very simple in construction and neat in appearance and may be manufactured and placed upon the market at comparatively small expense, as it consists of few parts, which are easily made and assembled.

The application of the device to awindow, door, or what not requires no special skill and may be effected by any one with the aid of a hammer or screw-driver. Above all the device is most effectual in giving an alarm, as its report is sharp and loud.

Slight changes might-be made in the form and arrangement of the several parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention, and hence we do not desire to limit ourselves to the exact construction herein set forth; but,

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is'

1. The combination with a frame constructed and adapted to receive a cap or cartridge therein, of a hammer substantially L- shaped at one end, and pivotcd'to the frame,

a rod, one end of said rod being pivotally con nected to the hammer at the angle of the L- shaped portion and the other end having loose sliding connection with the frame, and a spring on this rod bearing upon the hammer in a direction out of direct alinement with the pivot of the hammer and the point where the rod is connected to the frame whereby the hammer is held normally in its set position from which it is moved when struck by the sash and moved past its dead-center.

2. The combination in a burglar-alarm, of a frame provided with ears and longitudinally slotted, one wall of said slot forming a shield and guard for the mechanism, a hole or socket formed in the body portion of the frame for the reception of a cap or cartridge and connected with a second hole which permits the smoke and noise to escape, a hammer pivotally mounted in said slot and the head of which is provided with a knob for raising and setting the hammer, a projection upon the striking-face of the hammer to facilitate the explosion of the cap or cartridge, the foot of the hammer formed in substantially L shape, a cut-away portion, a spring mounted upon a rod operating therein, said spring movably connected with the foot of the hammer, a hole and slot in one end of the frame in which is loosely inserted one end of the rod.

CLARENCE E. SPENCER. JOHN T. PETHICK.

In presence of- E. A. WHEELER, JAMES H. PAUL. 

